Marshall’s 20th Crossing of Death Valley

The Religious Teachers Filippini, an order of Sisters founded by Saint Lucy Filippini whose motto is “Go and Teach,” are helping these women and children by providing an education and the basic necessities of life: water, food, and shelter. Their schools and programs are supported only through donations and grants, which are distributed to mission sites in 10 countries: Albania, Brazil, England, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, and the U.S. One hundred percent of all donations go directly to the mission work!

Your Contributions Make a Difference!
The Sisters empower women and children through education, giving them choices they otherwise would not have had in their lives. We believe completely that providing an education is “the real work of peace and justice” and have seen for ourselves the amazing work that the Sisters do here at home and in some of the poorest countries in the world. So, while Marshall has won the 135-mile Badwater Ultra a record four times, winning is no longer the goal. The reason he continues to return to Death Valley is to step outside of himself and do for others. Only this motivation keeps him going… mile, after long, arduous mile to the finish line.

20th Crossing of Death Valley and 14th Badwater
This will be Marshall’s 14th official race and 20th time across Death Valley – both world records. His other crossings include a north to south crossing; the only 146-mile, unaided, self-contained solo from Badwater to the summit of Mount Whitney – a crossing that required him to pull a 220-pound cart, including all of the water he would need over the course of almost 3 days, and all of his food and supplies; and his four-time, consecutive crossing: the 584-mile Badwater Quad. During the Quad, Marshall set the record for the double and triple crossings, as well as the only Quad to ever be completed. In 1991 he set the course record: 26:34 to the 135-mile finish of the official race at 8,360 feet on the Mount Whitney Portal road, a record finally broken by an American in 2005. He still holds the record for the fastest crossing from Badwater to the summit of Mount Whitney: 35:54.

Once Marshall finishes the 135-mile official race, he is not done! He will continue on the 11-mile trail to the summit of Mount Whitney to complete a total of 146 miles from the lowest point in the U.S., Badwater, at 242 feet below sea level, to the highest point in the contiguous U.S., the 14,494-foot summit of Mount Whitney. All told, his journey will cover 157 miles with about 19,000 feet of elevation gain in temperatures ranging from 120°F to possibly as low as freezing on the summit of Whitney. Marshall is making this journey to raise funds for the orphans from AIDS and women in Ethiopia. Knowing that you have contributed to the Religious Teachers – making a difference in the lives of these women and children – will provide motivation for Marshall to complete his journey.

The Work Continues
According to Sister Mary Beth Lloyd, Mission Director for the Religious Teachers, the greatest needs this year are the AIDS orphans in Adigrat and support to expand into Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Without you the children in Adigrat would have little to eat, and would not go to school. But, you can help! You can also help build an elementary school, a women’s center, and hostel for the orphans in Addis Ababa.

There are an estimated 600 children in Adigrat who have lost both of their parents from HIV/AIDS and have no place to live. The Sisters have taken the young and most neglected children into their hostel, keeping them together as a family. They are given food, clothing, shelter, and schooling. For others, their shelter is a 6’ x 4’ cement box, no bathroom and no window, rented for $3 a month. In the morning all of the children come to school to receive nourishment and an education. The girls enter a special program where they learn a skill that allows them to provide for their siblings. When the boys get bigger, they will enter the Christian Brothers school in town. With your help – and the courage and perseverance of the children – they will have a chance to rise above their terrible situation.

Every penny you give will go directly to the women and children; and your gift is tax deductible!

You can show your generous and sacrificial spirit and give thousands of women and children a chance in life by making a donation today! Please send a check, made out to the Religious Teachers Filippini Mission Fund, to:

Religious Teachers Filippini Mission Fund

Reference: Marshall Ulrich
455 Western Avenue

Morristown, NJ 07960

Any donation that you can make will be greatly appreciated!

Heather Ulrich